GRAYSLAKE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 127
Principal — Grayslake North High School
Full-Time | 12 Months (260 Days) | Reports to Superintendent
About District 127
Grayslake Community High School District 127 empowers all learners to launch their futures through relevant, engaging, and authentic learning. We are committed to creating a learning environment where students and staff are curious, invested, principled, unfinished, collaborative, resilient, and empathetic, and to fostering a community that is safe, supportive, and dedicated to continuous growth for all. Our Principals are pivotal in championing this vision and leading our schools to excellence.
The Opportunity
Grayslake North High School is seeking its next Principal. A relationship-driven, equity-minded leader who can build a unified school identity from the diverse populations that arrive from seven sender schools across multiple sender Districts. This leader will inherit a culture defined by innovation, teacher autonomy, and a commitment to student success and will carry that culture boldly into the future.
The ideal candidate keeps students at the center of every decision, advocates courageously for North at the District level, and brings the kindness, positivity, and sense of humor that define North’s community.
Who We’re Looking For
The next principal of Grayslake North will be skilled in the following areas:
- Builds school identity and community within the disparate populations that come from seven sender schools Districts.
- Demonstrates deep expertise in curriculum and instruction while preserving North’s culture of innovation, teacher autonomy, and risk-taking to enhance student engagement. Supports the belief that we should do “Whatever it takes” to achieve student success.
- Deeply invested in students at the center of decision-making. Prioritizes academic achievement, social-emotional well-being, and post-secondary readiness while ensuring strong supports for all learners, including multilingual and struggling students.
- Prioritizes visibility, engagement and relationship-driven presence. Maintains a highly visible presence in classrooms, hallways, activities, and the broader community. Build authentic relationships with students, staff, and families.
- Communicates skillfully, building trust through transparency. Establishes clear, consistent communication systems, actively listens to stakeholders, and fosters a culture of openness and shared understanding.
- Celebrate the Unfinished Staff by empowering collaboration honoring professional expertise, promoting professional development, and ensuring meaningful opportunities for input and shared leadership.
- Advocates courageously for Grayslake North at the District level, ensuring equitable resources, opportunities, and recognition while strengthening the school’s unique identity.
- Sustains a positive, inclusive environment and enhances North’s welcoming and relationship-focused culture where students and staff feel valued, supported, and connected.
- Holds self and others accountable. Establishes consistent expectations for student behavior, staff performance, and instructional quality, balancing accountability with support and growth.
- Strategically supports a diverse community. Strengthens family and community engagement across multiple communities, ensuring all voices are heard and represented in decision-making.
- Articulates a vision for the future of Grayslake North, demonstrating commitment to stability and growth. Provides a clear, forward-thinking vision, demonstrates long-term commitment to the school, and builds coherence while respecting existing strengths and traditions.
- Demonstrates kindness, positivity, courage, integrity and a sense of humor.
- Drives curious and collaborative instruction, encourages staff to question the norm with “what if” and “why”, fostering cross-departmental collaboration that results in relevant, engaging and authentic learning (REAL).
Key Responsibilities
Invested in Our Learning
- Foster a culture of curiosity and a passion for lifelong learning among students and staff.
- Lead the development and implementation of a shared vision for effective, research-based teaching and learning.
- Ensure learning is relevant, engaging, and authentic, with a focus on expanding career pathways, internships, and work-based experiences.
- Utilize multiple forms of data to drive a continuous improvement cycle for individual, team, and school-wide goals.
- Promote instructional technology and cross-curricular learning opportunities to enhance the educational experience.
Cultivate Our Well-Being
- Create a safe, seen, supported, and growing environment for all students and staff.
- Intentionally cultivate a climate of high trust and psychological safety, where students and staff feel secure to speak openly, take risks, and learn from mistakes.
- Implement and refine Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) to meet the diverse needs of all learners.
- Prioritize and enhance student and staff emotional supports and well-being initiatives.
Principled in Our Resources
- Demonstrate effective financial stewardship by utilizing resources to prioritize student learning.
- Ensure equitable access to all District programs, facilities, and learning opportunities for every student.
- Collaborate with staff to strategically allocate personnel, time, and materials to achieve school improvement goals.
Collaborative with Our Community
- Actively collaborate with the entire school community as partners in learning.
- Model and facilitate candid communication. Stating perspectives skillfully while actively inviting others to do the same.
- Foster trust, transparency, and collaboration through frequent, open communication with families and community members.
- Tell the story of students, staff, and school to cultivate a sense of pride and belonging.
Qualifications
- Valid Illinois Professional Educator License with General Administrative or Principal Endorsement.
- Qualified teacher evaluator as defined in the Illinois School Code.
- Successful administrative experience, with preference for experience as a secondary school principal, associate principal, or middle school principal.
- Demonstrated excellence as an educational leader with strong organizational, problem-solving, and human relations skills.
- Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership or a related field preferred
Application
- Applications are due September 30, 2026
- Apply on-line through this link: click here
Grayslake High School District 127 is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are made solely on the basis of the applicant’s ability to perform the essential functions of the position, without regard to race, creed, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, or disability.
